Lower body exercise machine

ABSTRACT

Provided is a lower body exercise equipment that enables a user to maintain a comfortable and accurate posture during exercise and conveniently adjust load of exercise to enhance exercise effect. A sitting seat of the lower body exercise equipment according to the present invention is ergonomically designed to give a sense of stability in consideration of a curve line of the hip of a user and to evenly distribute body weight of the user during exercise and comprises a first segment, a second segment and a third segment which are joined integrally to form a smooth curved surface. The insides of the thighs of the user contact the third segment  213  when the user sits on the sitting seat. A flat upper cover is formed between an upper edge of the third segment and a front edge of the sitting seat. A recess for accommodating an exercise assembly  300  is formed under the upper cover and the third segment. The exercise assembly  300  is inserted into and arranged in the recess through a recess inlet formed by partially cutting out a central portion of the front edge of the sitting seat.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a lower body exercise equipment, and more particularly, to a lower body exercise equipment excellent in exercise effect and easy to use because it is designed ergonomically to maximize the exercise effect on the lower body and it is configured to conveniently adjust and set intensity of exercise according to user's preference so that it is possible to maintain a comfortable and accurate posture during exercise.

BACKGROUND ART

Activity space of modern people has been reduced due to the urbanized environment and thus amount of activity and amount of exercise are rapidly decreasing. As a result, modern people suffer from obesity, various adult diseases, stress, digestive system diseases, skeletal deformity diseases and abnormal diseases of the skeletal system such as osteoporosis.

Lack of exercise is the cause of a sudden drop in physical strength. Basic fitness is the driving force to support oneself in a competitive society. The need for exercise for developing physical strength and power necessary to live in modern society, preventing various diseases caused by lack of exercise and leading a mentally and physically healthy life becomes a great concern.

Exercise is an activity that keeps and promotes healthy body organs and functions. If no regular exercise is taken, muscle mass is reduced and thus muscles are weakened, and bones are weakened and thus osteoporosis diseases are susceptible and disorders such as skeletal diseases in which bones are bent or flexed are caused. In particular, lack of exercise increases body fat and thus causes obesity that is a major cause of various adult diseases.

If exercise is taken, body fat is removed, muscle mass is increased, stress is relieved and cardiac output is increased so that cardiovascular diseases are prevented, brain activity becomes active and a good posture and body correction effect can be obtained. In addition, the exercise promotes digestion, makes the body resistant to disease and enhances flexibility and muscle strength.

The lower body in our body is where the most muscle mass exists. In other words, since the lower body is a body part where the most energy is consumed when exercising, it helps in reducing body fat through active energy consumption. In addition, if the muscle mass increases, the basal metabolism rate also increases. Therefore, increase of the muscle mass also has a significant effect on increase in the basal metabolism rate that stimulates metabolism. Steady lower body exercise develops the lower body muscles and hip muscles and increases muscle strength to support joints, thereby preventing and improving arthritis of knees and hip joints.

Recently, various lower body exercise equipments have been developed and marketed for health promotion of modern people who are busy with economic activities. FIG. 9 of the accompanying drawings shows structure of a conventional lower body trainer. In the conventional lower body trainer as shown in the figure, pivotable members 20 and 40 are pivotably coupled to one side of a seat plate 10, one ends of the pivotable members extend to protrude outward, the one ends of the pivotable members 20 and 40 are provided with pressing members 30 and 50 with which the insides of thighs of a user contact, respectively. This lower body trainer is configured such that the pivotable members 20 and 40 are simultaneously rotated when external force is applied to the pressing members 30 and 50 and then the pressing members 30 and 50 are returned to their original positions by respective return means when the external force is removed after the pressing members 30 and 50 are moved.

However, in the conventional lower body trainer as described above, the seat plate on which the user sits for exercise is not designed ergonomically. As a result, it is easy for the user's hip to be slipped without close adhesion to the seat plate when exercising and thus the user feels uncomfortable. Further, in order to solve such problem, the user has to stop exercise to correct his/her posture and thus efficiency of the exercise is reduced. In addition, since the pressing members which come into contact with the insides of thighs of the user are also designed without a design consideration for enhancing the convenience of exercise, the desired exercise effect could not be accomplished. Further, there is inconvenience in use because the lower body trainer is not provided with a means for adjusting tension force of the pivotable members and the pressing members according to physical conditions of users.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature [Patent Literature 1]

Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0104815 (issued on Sep. 24, 2012)

[Patent Literature 2]

Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1246995 (registered on Mar. 18, 2013)

[Patent Literature 3]

Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-0792602 (registered on Jan. 2, 2008)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a lower body exercise equipment that enables a user to maintain a comfortable and accurate posture during exercise and conveniently adjust load of exercise to enhance exercise effect.

Solution to Problem

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention for overcoming the problems as described above, there is provided a lower body exercise equipment comprising a sitting seat and an exercise assembly integrally assembled to the sitting seat, characterized in that: the sitting seat is ergonomically designed to give a sense of stability in consideration of a curve line of the hip of a user and to evenly distribute body weight of the user during exercise and comprises a first segment, a second segment and a third segment, the three segments being joined integrally to form a smooth curved surface, wherein the third segment is formed to protrude upward by a predetermined height in front of the second segment at an opposite side of the first segment, the insides of the thighs of the user contact the third segment when the user sits on the sitting seat, a flat upper cover is formed between an upper edge of the third segment and a front edge of the sitting seat, a recess for accommodating the exercise assembly is formed under the upper cover and the third segment, and the exercise assembly is inserted into and arranged in the recess through a recess inlet formed by partially cutting out a central portion of the front edge of the sitting seat so as to access the recess.

The lower body exercise equipment is characterized in that radius of curvature of the first segment is smaller than that of the second segment and central portions of the first segment and the second segment are formed to gently concave downward with a depth of 1 to 3 cm more than their respective edge portions.

The lower body exercise equipment is characterized in that the exercise assembly comprises:

a support plate detachably fixed under the front edge of the sitting seat, the support plate having a shape corresponding to the shape of the recess formed in the sitting seat;

a guide rail formed to protrude on an upper surface of the support plate;

a guide block fixedly mounted to the support plate at one side of the guide rail;

an actuating rod formed in a shape of a threaded rod and mounted on an upper portion of the guide block;

a handle attached to one side of the actuating rod;

a connection block attached to the other side of the actuating rod;

a pair of tension springs, one sides of the tension springs being fixed to both sides of the connection block respectively;

arms pivotally mounted to an upper surface of the support plate by means of pivots and having front ends to which the other sides of the tension springs are fixed, respectively; and

pressing members integrally attached to the rear ends of the arms, respectively.

The lower body exercise equipment is characterized in that the guide rail is formed to traverse the support plate along a direction of a relatively small width of the support plate and that the handle is configured to expose to the front of the sitting seat when the exercise assembly is inserted into the recess.

The lower body exercise equipment is characterized in that the connection block is configured to move back and forth along the actuating rod by manipulation of the handle whereby tension of the tension springs with one sides fixedly attached to the connection block is adjusted and that the pressing members have a predetermined degree of cushion respectively.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, according to the present invention, the sitting seat on which the user sits for performing the lower body exercise is designed ergonomically in consideration of a shape of the hip of the user, so that pressure applied to the sciatic nodule of the user is properly dispersed and the hip is fixed during exercise, thereby providing a comfortable seating feeling to the user and reducing a fatigue feeling. Further, pressure of the thighs where large load is applied during exercise is also dispersed and reduced properly and pressure applied to the local part and tailbone of the user is minimized, so that effects of improving comfortable feeling, reliability and safety can be obtained.

Further, the present invention makes it possible to adjust load of exercise to a desired level by conveniently manipulating the handle of the actuating rod, which is exposed to the front outside of the sitting seat, so that there is an effect of improving the convenience of exercise. Further, a degree of cushion is provided to the pressure members which are to be in close contact with the thighs of the user so that the user feels comfortable during exercise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top-side perspective view of a lower body exercise equipment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom-side perspective view of the lower body exercise equipment shown in

FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the lower body exercise equipment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top-side perspective view of a sitting seat applied to the lower body exercise equipment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom-side perspective view of the sitting seat shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the lower body exercise equipment shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views showing a structure and a state of use of only the exercise assembly of the lower body exercise equipment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a view showing a structure of a lower body trainer according to the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The accompanying drawings and the detailed description provided are merely directed to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Advantages and other features of the mechanisms and modes disclosed herein will become more apparent to those skilled in the art through a detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings showing exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Similar or corresponding elements throughout the figures will be represented by similar or corresponding reference numerals, unless otherwise emphasized.

Before describing at least one embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the configuration and arrangement of components disclosed in the following specification or shown in the drawings. Other embodiments of the present invention can be implemented and practiced in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology employed herein are intended to describe the present invention and should not be regarded as limiting the present invention.

All comparative descriptions used herein, such as left, right, top and bottom, are made with reference to the accompanying drawings, but are not intended to imply restrictive concepts. The embodiments described herein are to be understood as being intended to provide desirable features of variable details of certain embodiments and thus, features, components, modules, elements and/or aspects of the invention may be combined, interconnected, ordered, separated, exchanged, positioned and/or rearranged without substantially departing from the disclosed apparatus or method. Shapes and sizes of the components are exemplary and may be changed without substantially affecting or limiting the disclosed invention unless otherwise specified.

Hereinafter, a lower body exercise equipment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate a lower body exercise equipment 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the lower body exercise equipment 100 comprises a sitting seat 200 designed ergonomically and an exercise assembly 300 integrally assembled to the sitting seat 200 to allow a user to repeatedly perform movement for training the lower body.

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate enlarged views of the sitting seat 200.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the sitting seat 200 is designed in consideration of a curve line of the hip of a user to be seated thereon for lower body exercise such that body weight of the user is evenly distributed according to motion to perform the exercise. The sitting seat must support the user's hip well when the user sits on the sitting seat because the sitting seat and the hip push against each other. Therefore, the sitting seat is preferably designed such that the user's hip can come in and out smoothly but cling to the sitting seat without being lifted up when the user sits on the sitting seat. If high intensity exercise is performed in a state in which the user's hip does not cling to the sitting set, the user feels severe pain beyond the feeling of stiff in the hip and sometimes even feels numbness of legs. In conclusion, it is important to design the sitting seat ergonomically.

To this end, according to the present invention, the sitting seat 200 is ergonomically designed to include a first segment 211, a second segment 212 and a third segment 213 when viewed with respect to an upper surface of the sitting seat wherein the first segment 211 and the second segment 212 are joined by a smooth curved surface. In this case, radius of curvature of the first segment 211 is smaller than that of the second segment 212.

The first segment 211 is a position where the lower part of the hip bone below the user's tailbone is seated when the user sits on the sitting seat 200. The central portion of the first segment 211 is formed to gently concave downward with a depth of 1 to 3 cm more than its edge portion and thus the first segment is curved gently upward as it goes from the central portion to the edge in consideration of the shape of the hip part of the user to be seated on the sitting seat 200. By virtue of this configuration, the user's body weight is uniformly dispersed and distributed in the center of the sciatic nodule (hip bone) which is located on the first segment 211.

The second segment 212 is a position where the front part of the hip bone and the thighs of the user are seated when the user sits on the sitting seat 200. Similarly to the first segment 211, the central portion of the second segment 212 is formed to gently concave downward with a depth of 1 to 3 cm more than its edge portion and thus the second segment is formed to be curved gently upward as it goes from the central portion to the edge in consideration of the shape of the hip part of the user to be seated on the sitting seat 200. In this case, since the radius of curvature of the second segment 212 is larger than that of the first segment 211, the second segment 212 is formed flatter than the first segment 211. The second segment 212 extends in a form surrounding the third segment 213 to a front edge of the sitting seat 200 via the left and right sides of the third segment 213. A front edge 212 a of the second segment 212 is formed lower than a rear edge 211 a of the first segment 211 when viewed with respect to a horizontal plane of the sitting seat 200.

The insides of the thighs of the user contact the third segment 213 when the user sits on the sitting seat 200. At this time, the lower parts of the thighs of the user contact the second segment 212 at the left and right sides of the third segment 213. A flat upper cover 214 is formed between an upper edge of the third segment 213 and the front edge of the sitting seat 200. A recess 220 for accommodating the exercise assembly 300 is formed under the upper cover 214 and the third segment 213. The exercise assembly 300 is inserted into and arranged in the recess 220 through a recess inlet 222 formed by partially cutting out a central portion of the front edge 212 a of the sitting seat 200 so as to access the recess 220. A portion of the exercise assembly 300 is inserted into and arranged in the recess 220 provided in front of a lower surface of the sitting seat 200. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 230 are formed to protrude downward in a periphery of the recess 220 on the lower surface of the sitting seat 200.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a structure and a state of use of the exercise assembly 300 of the lower body exercise equipment 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the exercise assembly 300 includes a flat plate-shaped support plate 310. The support plate 310 not only serves to fix and support components of the exercise assembly 300 but also serves as a lower cover for covering the recess 220 of the sitting seat 200 when the exercise assembly 300 is inserted into the recess 220 of the sitting seat 200. To this end, the support plate 310 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the recess 220 formed in the sitting seat 200 and is detachably fixed under the front edge of the sitting seat 200. A guide rail 311 is formed to protrude on an upper surface of the support plate 310. The guide rail 311 is formed to traverse the support plate 310 along a direction of a relatively small width of the support plate 310.

A guide block 320 is mounted on the support plate 310 around a lower portion of the guide rail 311. An actuating rod 330 formed in a shape of a threaded rod is mounted on an upper portion of the guide block 320. The actuating rod 330 is disposed to extend in parallel to the guide rail 311 wherein a handle 332 is attached to one side of the actuating rod 330 while a connection block 334 is attached to the other side of the actuating rod 330. When the exercise assembly 300 is inserted into the recess 220 of the sitting seat 200, the handle 312 of the actuating rod 330 is exposed to the front of the sitting seat 200.

On the other side of the actuating rod 330, a stopper piece 331 is fixed between the connection block 334 and a distal end of the actuating rod 330. The stopper piece 331 prevents the connection block 334 from being broken away out of the other end, i.e., distal end of the actuating rod 330. The connection block 334 is moved back and forth along the actuating rod 330 in the form of a threaded rod by manipulation of the handle 332 attached to one side of the actuating rod 330.

One sides of tension springs 322 are fixed to both sides of the connection block 334, respectively. The other sides of the tension springs 322 are fixed to tip ends of arms 324, respectively. Arms 324 are pivotally mounted to the upper surface of the support plate 310 by pivots 326 provided at the central portions of the arms 324 respectively.

Pressing members 340 are integrally attached to rear ends of the arms 324, respectively. The pressing member 340 is configured to have a flat plate shape having a predetermined thickness so as to be in close contact with the thigh of the user. The pressing member 340 is made to have a predetermined degree of cushion such that the user does not feel uncomfortable.

Hereinafter, operation of the lower body exercise equipment 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described briefly with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In order for the user to exercise using the lower body exercise equipment 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user first sits on the upper surface of the sitting seat 200. At this time, the part near the hip bone out of the hip of the user is seated on the first segment 211 whereas the front part of the hip and the thighs of the user are seated on the second segment 212. In addition, the insides of the thighs of the user cling to the third segment 213.

By virtue of the shape and structure of the sitting seat 200 manufactured by the ergonomic design, pressure applied to the sciatic nodule of the user is properly dispersed and the hip is fixed so that a comfortable seating feeling is provided to the user and a fatigue feeling is reduced. Further, pressure of the thighs where the second largest load is applied after two ends of the sciatic nodule during exercise is reduced by its proper dispersion and pressure applied to the local part and tailbone of the user is also minimized, so that a great effect of improving comfortable feeling, reliability and safety is realized.

In the state of sitting on the sitting seat 200, the user manipulates the handle 312 of the actuating rod 330 to adjust the load of exercise. Specifically, when the handle 312 of the actuating rod 330 exposed to the front outside of the sitting seat 200 is turned clockwise or counterclockwise, the connection block 334 moves forward or backward along the guide rail 311. At this time, as the arms 324 and the pressing members 340 are connected to the connection block 334 via the tension springs 322, tension of the tension springs 322 can be adjusted by adjusting position of the connection block 334 to adjust the load of exercise.

After adjusting the load of exercise to the desired level, the user places the insides of the thighs of the user so as to contact the outer surfaces of the pressing members 340 integrally connected to the rear ends of the arms 324. In this state, exercise for strengthening muscle strength of the lower body is taken by repeatedly retracting and spreading legs.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   100: lower body exercise equipment -   200: sitting seat -   211, 212, 213: segment -   214: upper cover -   220: recess -   300: exercise assembly -   310: support plate -   311: guide rail -   320: guide block -   322: tension spring -   324: arm -   326: pivot -   330: actuating rod -   332: handle -   334: connection block -   340: pressing member 

1. A lower body exercise equipment 100 comprising a sitting seat 200 and an exercise assembly 300 integrally assembled to the sitting seat 200, characterized in that: the sitting seat 200 is ergonomically designed to give a sense of stability in consideration of a curve line of the hip of a user and to evenly distribute body weight of the user during exercise and comprises a first segment 211, a second segment 212 and a third segment 213, the three segments being joined integrally to form a smooth curved surface, wherein the third segment 213 is formed to protrude upward by a predetermined height in front of the second segment 212 at an opposite side of the first segment 211, the insides of the thighs of the user contact the third segment 213 when the user sits on the sitting seat 200, a flat upper cover 214 is formed between an upper edge of the third segment 213 and a front edge of the sitting seat 200, a recess 220 for accommodating the exercise assembly 300 is formed under the upper cover 214 and the third segment 213, and the exercise assembly 300 is inserted into and arranged in the recess 220 through a recess inlet 222 formed by partially cutting out a central portion of the front edge of the sitting seat 200 so as to access the recess
 220. 2. The lower body exercise equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that radius of curvature of the first segment 211 is smaller than that of the second segment 212 and central portions of the first segment 211 and the second segment 212 are formed to gently concave downward with a depth of 1 to 3 cm more than their respective edge portions.
 3. The lower body exercise equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the exercise assembly 300 comprises: a support plate 310 detachably fixed under the front edge of the sitting seat 200, the support plate having a shape corresponding to the shape of the recess 220 formed in the sitting seat 200; a guide rail 311 formed to protrude on an upper surface of the support plate 310; a guide block 320 fixedly mounted to the support plate 310 at one side of the guide rail 311; an actuating rod 330 formed in a shape of a threaded rod and mounted on an upper portion of the guide block 320; a handle 332 attached to one side of the actuating rod 330; a connection block 334 attached to the other side of the actuating rod 330; a pair of tension springs 322, one sides of the tension springs being fixed to both sides of the connection block 334 respectively; arms 324 pivotally mounted to an upper surface of the support plate 310 by means of pivots 326 and having front ends to which the other sides of the tension springs 322 are fixed, respectively; and pressing members 340 integrally attached to the rear ends of the arms 324, respectively.
 4. The lower body exercise equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide rail 311 is formed to traverse the support plate 310 along a direction of a relatively small width of the support plate 310 and that the handle 312 is configured to expose to the front of the sitting seat 200 when the exercise assembly 300 is inserted into the recess
 220. 5. The lower body exercise equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that the connection block 334 is configured to move back and forth along the actuating rod 330 by manipulation of the handle 332 whereby tension of the tension springs 322 with one sides fixedly attached to the connection block 334 is adjusted and that the pressing members 340 have a predetermined degree of cushion respectively. 